Cuban diocese honors Father Varela

Havana, Cuba, Mar 17, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Earlier
this month, Bishop Jose Manuel Perez of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, unveiled a
new statute in honor of the Father Felix Varela, one of Cuba’s most
important historical figures, at the diocesan cathedral.

The statue of
the Cuban priest, which was fashioned by Manuel Perez Velez, shows a
smiling Father Varela, “with the hope of someone who trusts in God and
in the virtues of the men and women of his nation.” The star on
the shield “expresses Varela’s thinking about independence and freedom
for Cuba.”

At the foot of
the statue is the phrase, “Seek the glory of God in everything,
sanctifying all of our actions, disposed towards love of neighbor.”

The statue was unveiled on March 12th.

New book released

Vitral
Publications has also released a new philosophical work by Father
Varela, which was first published in 1812 in Latin but was later
lost. It was recently found by Dr. Amaury B. Carbon Sierra, a
professor at the University of Havana.

The book is part
of a three-volume collection, the first two of which were written in
Latin, as was the custom of the time. The third was written in Spanish.